Green Trends

Five percent of Americans identify as vegetarian and about two percent call themselves vegan, says a Gallup poll examining eating habits of adults in the U.S. These numbers indicate little change from previous figures from 1991 and 2001, Gallup says, indicating that the rates of vegetarianism and veganism are holding steady.

Harris Interactive has found that fewer Americans are practicing eco-friendly habits than they were in 2009, and only a minority of Americans consider themselves environmentally-conscious consumers. In fact, only one-third of Americans name the future of the environment as an issue of great concern to them. Why the decline in eco-friendly living? What can we do to make life greener for all of us?

Non-profits excel at utilizing social media. What can businesses learn from them?

While ninety-three percent of charities are utilizing social media to great advantage, most for-profit businesses haven’t yet mastered the tools, says a report stating that while corporations have come a long way, they still have a lot to learn. Businesses, the report advises, would be wise to take a cue from their non-profit peers when it comes to maximizing social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. Notably, an overwhelming majority of charities (93 percent) have a Facebook page.

Living cheaply may lighten carbon footprint—saving money may also save the earth.

A new Harris Interactive poll reveals that in an effort to save money, more Americans are using mass transit and carpooling, cutting back on dry cleaning, using refillable water bottles, canceling print subscriptions, and more. In a poll surveying the lifestyle and spending habits of 2,227 adults, Harris found that Americans are cutting back on buying bottled water, as two in five (39 percent) have purchased refillable water bottles to use instead—this reflects an increase from February, when one-third (34 percent) had stated that they had made this change. One quarter of Americans (24 percent) also say they drop off their dry cleaning less often in an effort to save money.

The status-conscious use green products in public, but less eco-friendly items in private.

Green products that are used or consumed publicly are more likely to do well than those those products that are low-profile, says a study from The University of Minnesota, which examined consumer behavior and green trends. While some eco-friendly products may perhaps be inferior in quality or more difficult to use than their conventional but earth-unfriendly counterparts, the role of public perception plays a strong role in consumer decision-making, say the researchers.